The Japanese conveyor-belt chain pipped the pizzeria Zizzi and gourmet burger eatery GBK to the top spot following anonymous visits. However Tapas bar La Tasca, Italian chain Strada, and French-themed Café Rouge failed to impress.
olive's food experts visited 10 of the UK's biggest chains to establish which were best and worst in terms of quality, atmosphere, choice, provenance, and value. The investigation was carried out for the March issue of olive, on sale now, priced £3.50.
Yo! Sushi won gold, scoring 42/50 with the judges highlighting "exciting and outstanding flavour combinations" and that Yo! Sushi offered ingredients from "sustainable, approved and certified wild fisheries." Zizzi took silver, winning approval for its stone-based ovens, friendly staff and generous portion sizes, while the Gourmet Burger Kitchen's use of British beef and English chickens was also praised. The judges said: "Call yourself 'gourmet' and you had better be good. Happily GBK is."
At the other end of the league table, La Tasca picked up just 17 out of a possible 50, with the judges commenting: "Cooked tapas (cold-in-the-middle croquettes, greasy calamari; burned padron peppers) were terrible."
Strada performed better with 30/50 –the olive test team recognised its "ambition", but also said: "The quality was akin to luxury supermarket ready meals, which, when you’re paying £17.50 for a main, tastes expensive." Café Rouge also scored 30/50 with the judges unimpressed with the décor "Belle Epoque seen through Disney's eyes."
The full list:
1. Yo! Sushi - 42/50
2. Zizzi - 38/50
3. GBK - 37/50
4. Carluccio's - 36/50
5. Nando's - 33/50
6. Wagamama - 32/50
7. Giraffe - 31/50
8. Café Rouge - 30/50
9. Strada - 30/50
10. La Tasca – 17/50
The investigation was carried out through anonymous visits with the olive test team paying for all meals. The 10 chains were chosen because each has at least 30 branches across the UK and the same menus in every outlet (other than some specials).
